Holy Apostles Apelles, Lucius and Clement of the Seventy (1st Century) — September 10 / September 23 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 10 according to the Julian Calendar (September 23 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Apostles Apelles, Lucius and Clement, of the Seventy.

The holy Apostle Apelles (called Apollo in the Georgian tradition), one of the Seventy, was Bishop of the city of Smyrna, on the eastern shore of the Aegean Sea. The Apostle Paul mentions him in the Epistle to the Romans (16:10).

The holy Apostle Lucius (also called Luke), one of the Seventy, was appointed Bishop of Laodicea in Syria (once a chief city of Phrygia). The Apostle Paul mentions him too in the Epistle to the Romans (16:21).

The holy Apostle Clement was Bishop of Sardis, in ancient times a wealthy city of Lydia in Asia Minor. The Apostle Paul mentions his name in the Epistle to the Philippians (4:3), where he writes: “Help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”